Third Grade Classroom Rules, Management, and Behavior Ideas
1) RED LIGHT GREEN LIGHT SYSTEM
(source-observed in Ms. Whitlocks 3rd grade class during placement at Blackburn Elementary School) The classroom has a stop light constructed from wood in the classroom. This stop light consists of three large circles, a red circle, a yellow cirlce, and a green circle. Each child in the class has a clothes pin with his or her name wrote across it in sharpie. At the beginning of the day, each pin is placed on the green light. This means they have done nothing wrong. If a child breaks a rule, talks out, or is disrespectful, the teacher instructs the student to go to the stop light and move a clip. They will then have to move there clip from the green circle to the yellow circle. If the child acts out again, they will have to move their clip from the yellow circle to the red circle. If a child makes it to the red circle they will loose "care points". All students are rewarded a certain number of care points at the beginning of the week. If they finish the week with a certain number of care points, they will be able to attend a ceremony and spend their points at a school store.
2) Ticket system
(source- This is the behavioral system i used when i was in elementary school) At the beginning of each day, all students start off with five tickets. Each student has a small folder with their name on it stapled to a bulletin board in the front of the classroom. If the student breaks a classroom rule one time, they have to go and pull the first ticket. The first ticket is a warning ticket. This ticket is simply a warning. The next time a child acts out they pull the second ticket. This second ticket has "loose five minutes" written on it. The child will have to sit out the first five minutes of recess. The next ticket a child has to pull, the third ticket, has "loose ten minutes" written on it. The student will loose the first ten minutes of recces The fourth ticket they pull will have "No recess/ note home" written on it. The child will loose recess and the teacher will write a note home to the parents informing them of the students bad conduct. The final ticket will have "visit principal" written on it. The child will then receive no recess, have a note wrote home, and have to go and visit the principals office.
3-School Store System
(Source- Observed during placement at Blackburn Elementary School) At the beginning of the week, all students start off with one hundred dollars of school bucks. Each student has a piggy band with their name on it on a counter in the classroom. Each time a student breaks a classroom rule or acts out, they have to go remove money from their bank. As the behavioral problem worsens, the more money they will have to remove from the bank. The class can have a meeting at the beginning of the year to decide how much each type of misconduct will cost you. At the end of the week, the students will get to spend the money they have left in a school store that is set up. The store could consist of odds and ends such as toys and candy. Or it can have different prizes. For example, maybe if a child kept all one hundred dollars for a whole week, they can choose to add five extra bonus points to any test they have taken that week. Or they can opt out of doing a classroom duty such as stacking chairs at the end of the day. The prizes would be based on the type of students that you have. You have to get to know them and figure out what type of things they care about. That is how you choose the consequences for their actions.
4) Magic wand class discussion
(Source-Personal idea) Have students arrange desk into a circle. Bring a decorated baton to class. Explain to the students that you are not allowed to talk unless you have the baton in your hands. Each Student gets to state on classroom rule when it is there turn to hold the baton and tell why they thing this would be a good rule to have. Each student gets a turn to do this. Each turn last one minute (an egg timer will be set). The teacher writes each of these rules on the board as the "magic wand" makes its way around the circle. After each student has had a chance to say a rule and the teacher has them all on the board the class will decide which of those rules should be put on a poster and used for the rest of the year
5)Individual System
(source-http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/classroom-behavior-cont.html) It is important for the students that are always doing the right thing and to encourage the others, tape a 25 grid chart on the top of each desk. Give each student a star with my colored sharpie when they complete work, for staying quiet, etc. Let them know before an activity that it is worth a star. When they fill the 25 grid they get a prize. They like the individual one the most because it cannot be messed up by other students meaning if they are the only one at their table to complete their work their table will not get a star but they still will.
6) Bean System
(source-http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/classroom-behavior-cont.html) Students will begin each day with four beans (20 beans per week). The beans will be stored in cups attached to each student's desk. Throughout the day, students will have the opportunity to earn beans for positive behaviors. Beans may also be lost for inappropriate behavior. Verbal warnings or Shh! Tokens will be given before each bean is taken.At the end of the week, each student will fill out a Bean Banking sheet and visit the the Market to redeem beans.What are the consequences? Shh! Tokens: These tokens will be given when students talk out of turn during large or small group instruction. The following is a list of Shh! Token consequences:
1 Shh! Token: Warning
2 Shh! Tokens: Student loses 1 bean
3 Shh! Tokens: Student loses second bean and is moved away from the group or loses 5 minutes free play.
* For behaviors other than talking, a verbal warning will be given before beans are taken.The following is a list of consequences for losing beans:
1 bean: No Consequence (other than not being able to purchase certain items at the Moody Market)
2 beans: Student loses 5 minutes Free Play
3 beans: Note Home outlining why each bean was lost, Student signs Behavior Log
4 beans: Call home, notify Lower School Head.
7) Smile rewards
(source-http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/classroom-behavior-cont.html) First we have a behavior sheet that goes home every day and must be signed by parents. The behavior sheet has 14 smile faces across that may be highlighted or not (each is worth 1/2 hour of time. Students may also earn an extra smile for getting homework done.
Daily Reward:At the end of the day if a student has a successful day (13-15 smiles) then a smile face is stamped onto a calendar (on their desk) and they may borrow a video/dvd or book from the teacher. I always write down the item borrowed on the behavior sheet and check if it is returned the next day. They may borrow each day that they are successful and have brought back the item from the day before. My kids love to borrow and many borrow books to take home every day.
Weekly Reward:Also at the end of the week we have a menu of rewards depending on how many smiles they earned on their calendar that week. One of the things my students love to earn is free time or time that they may be spent doing one of several activities available. This gives them a break from "work" and rewards on-task behavior and getting work done. This correlates quite well with the behavior sheet.
Monthly Reward: Students who manage to earn all their smile faces for a month, earn a free meal of their choice (fast food coupons or I will actually go get what they want).
Time-Out:If a student has to do a time-out an appropriate amount of a smile face is marked off of the behavior sheet. In the past I have kept track of the minutes missed by using a small card for each student and highlighting minutes earned and x-ing out minutes lost. This however, can be time comsuming and is usually managed with the help of an aide. If homework is not done I x-out the homework smile face.
8) Seating charts
(source- experience in observing in third grade at Blackburn Elementary)
Assign the students seats. Never let third graders sit where they want to sit. Write the students names on their desks the first day of school. After the first week of school you can see who should and should not be sitting together. After the first week rearrange the name cards. Never sit two students together who love to talk. Dont sit two students together who hate each other either. Be very mindful of the students personalities the first week of school and make a seating chart.
9)Hopping People
( source-http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/classroom-behavior.html)I use people cut outs with magnets on the back and each student has a person with their name on it. These people go on the board for everyone to see. After the first week of school, anyone that hasn't moved their person all week gets to take their person off the board. I have four pouches that are called "Hops" on the board. Hop One is labeled "warning." If a child breaks one of the four rules, they move their person into Hop One. Before anyone moves a person into Hop One, they are given a verbal warning. Hop Two results in a note being sent home (in their agenda/planner) with a description of the rule-breaking action. Hop Three results in the child calling their parent at home/work. The child must tell their parents what they did and why they're calling. The final step requires the student to go to the principal's office. At this step, the parents have already been called by the student (Hop Three) and they already know what's been going on. At the end of the day, any people that have been moved are put back outside the pouches and stay on the board. It takes a week of not moving their person for a student's person to come off the board. The goal is to have no people on the board.
Each month I choose a theme. Students choose their prize and we set a goal together for them to work towards.
For example, this month, April, I have an umbrella hanging above each group of 4 (can be altered to match your seating arrangements). Since April showers bring May flowers, students are earning raindrops to add to their umbrella. A drop can be earned when the group follows directions 1st time, works well on a task, quickest/quietest cleanup ect. Every 10 raindrops earns the group 1 flower. Each team has to earn atleast 3 flowers by the end of the month. Any group who meets the goal is able to participate in the reward ( extra recess, ice cream party, computer time, lunch in classroom etc.) Of course this idea can be altered to better meet your needs. It works great for me.
It especially encourages cooperation during group work and less wasted time during transitional periods. It also adds seasonal decor. This effectively displays the idea of a 'fresh start' each month and because it changes each month students will stay motivated. It gives that extra incentive for students who need to see immediate results of a good job.
Here are monthly ideas
Sept - students earn apples to put on a tree
Oct - students earn leaves to add to a tree;
Nov - students earn feathers to add to turkey
Dec - earn ornaments to place on christmas tree;
Jan - Earn 1 part at a time to build a snowman. body, eyes, mouth, nose, hat, scarf, arms.
Feb. - earn conversation hearts collected in a baby food jar.
Mar. - students earn gold coins to add to a pot; earn clovers to add to leprechaun hats.
Third Grade Classroom Rules, Management, and Behavior Ideas
1) RED LIGHT GREEN LIGHT SYSTEM
(source-observed in Ms. Whitlocks 3rd grade class during placement at Blackburn Elementary School)
The classroom has a stop light constructed from wood in the classroom. This stop light consists of three large circles, a red circle, a yellow cirlce, and a green circle. Each child in the class has a clothes pin with his or her name wrote across it in sharpie. At the beginning of the day, each pin is placed on the green light. This means they have done nothing wrong. If a child breaks a rule, talks out, or is disrespectful, the teacher instructs the student to go to the stop light and move a clip. They will then have to move there clip from the green circle to the yellow circle. If the child acts out again, they will have to move their clip from the yellow circle to the red circle. If a child makes it to the red circle they will loose "care points". All students are rewarded a certain number of care points at the beginning of the week. If they finish the week with a certain number of care points, they will be able to attend a ceremony and spend their points at a school store.
2) Ticket system
(source- This is the behavioral system i used when i was in elementary school)At the beginning of each day, all students start off with five tickets. Each student has a small folder with their name on it stapled to a bulletin board in the front of the classroom. If the student breaks a classroom rule one time, they have to go and pull the first ticket. The first ticket is a warning ticket. This ticket is simply a warning. The next time a child acts out they pull the second ticket. This second ticket has "loose five minutes" written on it. The child will have to sit out the first five minutes of recess. The next ticket a child has to pull, the third ticket, has "loose ten minutes" written on it. The student will loose the first ten minutes of recces The fourth ticket they pull will have "No recess/ note home" written on it. The child will loose recess and the teacher will write a note home to the parents informing them of the students bad conduct. The final ticket will have "visit principal" written on it. The child will then receive no recess, have a note wrote home, and have to go and visit the principals office.
3-School Store System
(Source- Observed during placement at Blackburn Elementary School)At the beginning of the week, all students start off with one hundred dollars of school bucks. Each student has a piggy band with their name on it on a counter in the classroom. Each time a student breaks a classroom rule or acts out, they have to go remove money from their bank. As the behavioral problem worsens, the more money they will have to remove from the bank. The class can have a meeting at the beginning of the year to decide how much each type of misconduct will cost you. At the end of the week, the students will get to spend the money they have left in a school store that is set up. The store could consist of odds and ends such as toys and candy. Or it can have different prizes. For example, maybe if a child kept all one hundred dollars for a whole week, they can choose to add five extra bonus points to any test they have taken that week. Or they can opt out of doing a classroom duty such as stacking chairs at the end of the day. The prizes would be based on the type of students that you have. You have to get to know them and figure out what type of things they care about. That is how you choose the consequences for their actions.
4) Magic wand class discussion
(Source-Personal idea)Have students arrange desk into a circle. Bring a decorated baton to class. Explain to the students that you are not allowed to talk unless you have the baton in your hands. Each Student gets to state on classroom rule when it is there turn to hold the baton and tell why they thing this would be a good rule to have. Each student gets a turn to do this. Each turn last one minute (an egg timer will be set). The teacher writes each of these rules on the board as the "magic wand" makes its way around the circle. After each student has had a chance to say a rule and the teacher has them all on the board the class will decide which of those rules should be put on a poster and used for the rest of the year
5)Individual System
(source-http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/classroom-behavior-cont.html)It is important for the students that are always doing the right thing and to encourage the others, tape a 25 grid chart on the top of each desk. Give each student a star with my colored sharpie when they complete work, for staying quiet, etc. Let them know before an activity that it is worth a star. When they fill the 25 grid they get a prize. They like the individual one the most because it cannot be messed up by other students meaning if they are the only one at their table to complete their work their table will not get a star but they still will.
6) Bean System
(source-http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/classroom-behavior-cont.html)
Students will begin each day with four beans (20 beans per week). The beans will be stored in cups attached to each student's desk. Throughout the day, students will have the opportunity to earn beans for positive behaviors. Beans may also be lost for inappropriate behavior. Verbal warnings or Shh! Tokens will be given before each bean is taken. At the end of the week, each student will fill out a Bean Banking sheet and visit the the Market to redeem beans. What are the consequences? Shh! Tokens: These tokens will be given when students talk out of turn during large or small group instruction. The following is a list of Shh! Token consequences:
- 1 Shh! Token: Warning
- 2 Shh! Tokens: Student loses 1 bean
- 3 Shh! Tokens: Student loses second bean and is moved away from the group or loses 5 minutes free play.
* For behaviors other than talking, a verbal warning will be given before beans are taken. The following is a list of consequences for losing beans:7) Smile rewards
(source-http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/classroom-behavior-cont.html)First we have a behavior sheet that goes home every day and must be signed by parents. The behavior sheet has 14 smile faces across that may be highlighted or not (each is worth 1/2 hour of time. Students may also earn an extra smile for getting homework done.
Daily Reward: At the end of the day if a student has a successful day (13-15 smiles) then a smile face is stamped onto a calendar (on their desk) and they may borrow a video/dvd or book from the teacher. I always write down the item borrowed on the behavior sheet and check if it is returned the next day. They may borrow each day that they are successful and have brought back the item from the day before. My kids love to borrow and many borrow books to take home every day.
Weekly Reward: Also at the end of the week we have a menu of rewards depending on how many smiles they earned on their calendar that week. One of the things my students love to earn is free time or time that they may be spent doing one of several activities available. This gives them a break from "work" and rewards on-task behavior and getting work done. This correlates quite well with the behavior sheet.
Monthly Reward: Students who manage to earn all their smile faces for a month, earn a free meal of their choice (fast food coupons or I will actually go get what they want).
Time-Out: If a student has to do a time-out an appropriate amount of a smile face is marked off of the behavior sheet. In the past I have kept track of the minutes missed by using a small card for each student and highlighting minutes earned and x-ing out minutes lost. This however, can be time comsuming and is usually managed with the help of an aide. If homework is not done I x-out the homework smile face.
8) Seating charts
(source- experience in observing in third grade at Blackburn Elementary)Assign the students seats. Never let third graders sit where they want to sit. Write the students names on their desks the first day of school. After the first week of school you can see who should and should not be sitting together. After the first week rearrange the name cards. Never sit two students together who love to talk. Dont sit two students together who hate each other either. Be very mindful of the students personalities the first week of school and make a seating chart.
9)Hopping People
( source-http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/classroom-behavior.html)I use people cut outs with magnets on the back and each student has a person with their name on it. These people go on the board for everyone to see. After the first week of school, anyone that hasn't moved their person all week gets to take their person off the board. I have four pouches that are called "Hops" on the board. Hop One is labeled "warning." If a child breaks one of the four rules, they move their person into Hop One. Before anyone moves a person into Hop One, they are given a verbal warning. Hop Two results in a note being sent home (in their agenda/planner) with a description of the rule-breaking action. Hop Three results in the child calling their parent at home/work. The child must tell their parents what they did and why they're calling. The final step requires the student to go to the principal's office. At this step, the parents have already been called by the student (Hop Three) and they already know what's been going on. At the end of the day, any people that have been moved are put back outside the pouches and stay on the board. It takes a week of not moving their person for a student's person to come off the board. The goal is to have no people on the board.10)Monthly Behavior Themes
(Source-http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/classroom-behavior.html)Each month I choose a theme. Students choose their prize and we set a goal together for them to work towards.
For example, this month, April, I have an umbrella hanging above each group of 4 (can be altered to match your seating arrangements). Since April showers bring May flowers, students are earning raindrops to add to their umbrella. A drop can be earned when the group follows directions 1st time, works well on a task, quickest/quietest cleanup ect. Every 10 raindrops earns the group 1 flower. Each team has to earn atleast 3 flowers by the end of the month. Any group who meets the goal is able to participate in the reward ( extra recess, ice cream party, computer time, lunch in classroom etc.) Of course this idea can be altered to better meet your needs. It works great for me.
It especially encourages cooperation during group work and less wasted time during transitional periods. It also adds seasonal decor. This effectively displays the idea of a 'fresh start' each month and because it changes each month students will stay motivated. It gives that extra incentive for students who need to see immediate results of a good job.
Here are monthly ideas
11) Sample Classroom Rules
(Source-http://k6educators.about.com/od/classroommanagement/qt/class_rules.htm).